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What do you do when a good idea fails? You invest in a better version of it. We've known about Google's huge bet on startup Magic Leap for months, but a recent patent application explains why Mountain View has thrown over $540 million at an unknown entity. We don't know exactly what Magic Leap will offer, but by piecing together various patent applications we can surmise it relates to a wearable display system that will supposedly enable a super-realistic type of VR it calls "cinematic reality".

The Obama administration has recently nominated former Google lawyer Michelle Lee to be the next permanent director of the US Patent and Trademark Office, which could mean bad news for patent trolls. Lee, who was appointed as the department's deputy director in January, was Google's first ever head of patents and patent strategy and has long been a strong proponent for patent reform. Lee appears to be well-versed to handle the demands of the job, with not just her history at Google but also M.I.T degrees in electrical engineering and computer science and 20 years experience as a patent attorney. The USPTO has not had a permanent director since David Kappos left in 2013.

Nearly a year after Fitbit revealed its last fitness gadget, it looks like its next devices will be called Charge. The wearables passed through the FCC revealing the moniker and designation as a "wireless activity tracker." Thanks to a USPTO filing, we can glean that it'll carry the usual waterproofing alongside pedometer and altimeter for tracking steps, sleep and calories burned. On top of those expected features, the paperwork also indicates that a heart rate sensor, navigation info, weather forecast, call notifications and volume control will also be lumped in for syncing up with your phone.

Siri might be making her way to a Mac near you. According to a patent application filed in February and released today, Apple's considering bringing the iPhone personal assistant to its desktop OS. The 92-page document details how you'll interact with Apple's "digital assistant," a term that occurs 574 times in the patent app (the name Siri never makes an appearance, however). According to the document, a desktop version could pair Siri's current actions with more complex functionality, such as file and system management. After calling on the assistant by using a specific gesture on the touchpad or clicking an icon in the dock, you could use it to send emails, find images or YouTube videos on the web, print documents or copy and "hold" multiple files. As TechCrunch notes, there's no reference to such an assistant in the Yosemite beta preview, so it'll probably be at least another year before Siri (or her better-equipped equivalent) arrives on the Mac.

Motorola might not be the only company making a smartwatch with a circular display in the near future. Samsung has filed for a trio of US designpatents for smartwatches that are much more rounded than squarish devices like the Gear Live. The watch faces vary in their curviness, although they all have a similar camera in the band like the early Galaxy Gear; one example (what you see above) also has charging pins in the clasp, rather than on the watch itself. It's clear that Samsung is seriously considering circular wristwear, although whether or not it actually builds any of these gadgets is another matter. All the patents were filed last March, or well before the company saw poor Galaxy Gear sales and revamped its designs -- if these concepts ever translate to real products, there could be a lot of changes.

Even Lenovo isn't immune from the temptation to produce a Google Glass-like wearable display, it seems. The Chinese tech giant has applied for a US patent on a headset design with dual screens, touch-based navigation and an unusually strong emphasis on voice quality. Rather than use conventional noise-canceling microphones, like Google, Lenovo would use a bone-conducting microphone just above your nose bridge. The approach would make it easier to catch your voice, since you wouldn't have to compete with outside sounds for attention; it could also offer an extra level of privacy for internet calls, since you could speak quietly and still get your message across.

Touchscreens on smartwatches are limited by their very nature; there's only so much you can fit on a tiny piece of glass. However, Samsung might overcome that surface area limit if it ever implements a recently published patent application. Its smartwatch concept would let you perform relatively complex tasks just by waving your hands in front of a built-in camera. You could send content to a TV just by flicking your hand, for example, or select something by pointing your finger.

Battery-saving software on a phone tends to have all the subtlety of a sledgehammer -- it either waits until you're low on power to do anything, or limits functionality at all times. Apple may eventually take a smarter approach, if a newly published patent application is any indication. The technique would optimize your mobile device's power consumption based on both your daily activities and charging patterns. If your iPhone doesn't get much use during working hours, for instance, it could automatically throttle down for that period. The technology also adjusts power for specific events; check into a long flight and your phone will conserve battery while you're in the air. We don't know if Apple will ever use this energy-saving technology, but the patent is grounded more firmly in reality than others we've seen.

The White House isn't relying solely on legislative measures to try and curb patent trolls; it's also giving the trolls' targets some online resources to defend themselves. To start, it just launched a USPTO website that tells victims what to do if they're served with infringement notices or subpoenas. Meanwhile, a future effort will crowdsource prior art to thwart suits over patents that should never have been granted in the first place. There's still more work ahead in the legal realm, including pro bono defense lawyers and technology training for patent examiners. However, the new online tools just might give smaller companies the know-how to fight back against trolls that prey on their lack of information.

Typically, motion controllers aren't very good at adapting to different gameplay situations -- not unless you're willing to slap on a cheap plastic shell, anyway. Sony may improve that state of affairs in the future, though, as it recently filed for a patent on a modular PlayStation Move controller. The concept lets gamers attach parts to the Move that change not just how it feels, but how it behaves in-game. A set of "limbs" would turn it into a humanoid, for example, while a rotating part could switch between a gun and a sword. It's an intriguing idea, although we wouldn't count on seeing it any time soon. A modular system would likely raise the price of a future Move controller, and Sony has lately focused more on the DualShock 4's Move-like features than dedicated peripherals.

Deep down, we'd all like to believe our text-based interactions are worthy of Calvin & Hobbes-style witticisms. They're not and you know it, but does Google? No matter, because the tech giant was just awarded a patent to format your virtual conversations into something more suited for comic strip syndication online. The concept, though gimmicky, isn't as freshly innovative as it might first sound. In fact, both Apple and Microsoft have already had designs on the same. Anyone remember Microsoft Comic Chat?

Okay, so Google's comic-making process is nothing new, but it does have a key differentiator: It's shareable via email, IM or, more likely, a social network "stream" or profile page. The system, as outlined by the patent, merely repurposes conversations, either manually or automagically, between at least two people into a comic strip layout. It's then given a title by the user, an appropriate theme as selected from the user interface and formatted for its intended destination. Beyond that, it's all a matter of where the strip gets posted. Editing permissions can also be extended to second- and third-party users so that the strip lives on. No doubt, it's a fun way to jazz up otherwise mundane online interactions, but that doesn't mean we'll ever actually see this comic generator come to light. You know how these things go. It's a patent; it's good for litigation.

Tagging greatly simplifies photo searches, but it can be a cumbersome process -- just ask anyone who has typed in keywords for dozens of vacation shots. It may be more intuitive if Apple implements the voice tagging from a newly published patent application, though. The technique would let mobile-device users describe images using natural-language voice commands, with social networks and other info filling in the gaps. Say "this is us at the beach" and the software would tag not only you and the location, but also anyone else who was scheduled to come along on the trip. It could even auto-tag photos once it recognizes people and scenes. There's no certainty that iOS will get any of the new voice features, but don't be surprised if you can eventually ask Siri to sort out your iPhone photo gallery.

Motorola has already filed for patents on both wrist-worn gadgets and flexible displays. Today, we're seeing what happens when the company merges the two technologies. A newly published patent application has revealed a Motorola concept for a smartwatch-like device where both the screen and the shell underneath can flex in tandem. Much like a metal watch band, the chassis would be made of links; grips on each link would bend the display. It's a simple idea, although we're not expecting a product out of it any time soon -- the company will need flexible circuits before any bendy wearables can reach its roadmap.

Huawei filed a trademark for a "PhoPad" with the USPTO this week. There's no guarantee that the manufacturer will come out with such a device -- which, given the name, we'd expect to be similar in concept to the ASUS PadFone or FonePad -- but who wouldn't love to pick up their very own PhoPad at the local Best Buy someday?

Most large tech companies are either making wearable devices, or at least showing an interest in them. Sony's got a smartwatch, sure, but it's bored of such "in-the-box" thinking. Either that, or someone at Sony's been hitting the pipe, as the company's trying to patent what it calls a "SmartWig" (yeah, seriously). The application describes a standard wig that could "be made from horse hair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair or any kind of synthetic material," with a circuit board hidden among those luscious locks. That board can talk to a "second computing device" wirelessly -- such as a phone or even a pair of smartglasses -- and actuators embedded in the hairpiece could "provide tactile feedback to the user." In other words, the wig could vibrate when you receive emails and the like. The wig-chip could also include GPS and an ultrasound transducer, with different regions buzzing to give navigation cues. If all that doesn't sound ludicrous enough, how about an integrated camera? Or, get this, a laser pointer.

The filing goes on to claim a wig is the perfect hiding place for delicate electronics, as humans tend to "instinctively protect their heads more than other body parts." While its potential utility for guiding the blind is mentioned, Sony's apparently tested the SmartWig in a far less meaningful scenario: giving presentations. Switching slides by "touching side burns" is expected to be of some merit, as is an ability to sense facial gestures like the raising of eyebrows. It may be the wearable device Doctor Evil has been dreaming of, but for some reason, we doubt SmartWig could ever make it mainstream.

Okay, where to start on this one? Simply put, Motorola has applied for a patent of a microphone with a tranceiver and power supply that is designed to be tattooed onto your throat. The idea is to capture vibrations directly from your larynx in order to cut out background noise -- while eliminating something else you could lose, we imagine. The skin-borne device could communicate with your handset or other portable device by Bluetooth, NFC or other wireless protocols and would pack a battery that "may or may not be rechargeable." The patent adds that the technology could also be applied to "other animals," so we're a bit concerned that Motorola is taking its wearable schemes in the wrong direction.

Samsung already has extended warranties, but you'd be forgiven if you didn't notice them -- they're not exactly well-advertised. That may soon change, as the company has quietly filed for a catchier "Samsung Protection Plus" trademark in the US. There's little to reveal what would come with Protection Plus, although the trademark mentions coverage for both electronics and appliances; this wouldn't just be for a new washing machine. We don't know if or when the service will become reality, but don't be surprised if you can soon get an advanced warranty for a Galaxy Note 3 without resorting to the carrier or an insurance firm.

Sorry, anonymous Apple multitouch patent challenger -- your victory isn't only temporary, it's also short-lived. The US Patent Office has decided to uphold patent No. 7,479,949 after tentatively invalidating it in December of 2012, which could mean bad news for many of Cupertino's competitors. If those numbers sound vaguely familiar, that's because they're known to most people as the controversial multitouch patent (that covers the downward-swipe gesture as seen in the video after the break) that Apple used against Palm, HTC and Samsung in court. In fact, it was one of the two patents that led to the import ban of some Samsung devices in the US. Needless to say, it now remains a powerful weapon for lawsuits in Apple's arsenal, and rivals best find a way to work around it on their designs.

As it stands, Google Glass doesn't have a simple way of cataloging real-world items -- you have to snap a picture and make a note afterward. It may get much easier if Google implements a newly granted US patent, however. The technique uses a wearable display's camera to detect hand gestures made in front of objects. Make a heart shape and you'll "like" what's front of you; frame something with your fingers and you'll select it. There's no certainty that Glass will ever support these commands, but they're certainly intuitive. If nothing else, they could lead to a new, very literal take on Google Goggles.

So far, in-car gestures aren't useful for much more than raging at the driver that just cut you off. Google wants these gestures to be more productive, however, and has applied for a patent that uses hand motion to control the car itself. Its proposed system relies on both a ceiling-mounted depth camera and a laser scanner to trigger actions based on an occupant's hand positions and movements. Swipe near the window and you'll roll it down; point to the radio and you'll turn the volume up. While there's no guarantee that we'll see the technology in a car, the USPTO is publishing the patent filing just a day after Google has acquired a motion control company. If nothing else, the concept of a Google-powered, gesture-controlled car isn't as far fetched as it used to be.

The phrase "virtual book club" may not conjure romantic visions of low-lit rooms and vintage wines, but you don't necessarily need those things to throw fancy words around. Amazon-owned Goodreads hosts user-created online clubs, but a Google patent application that's surfaced today imagines a different way of bringing bookworms together. It describes a system that automatically prompts the buyer of a new title, presumably acquired through Google Books, to join a club. To make this virtual version a little more like the real thing, it'll suggest specific groups based on your age, location, interests, preferred club size, reading speed and literary tastes. Furthermore, you'll only be coupled with those who've bought the work recently, so your new-found chums aren't on page 400 before you've even started.

It'll all be managed through a social network, of course (we hear Google has one of those), and members will be able to fill specific roles within the club hierarchy. They'll also be able to schedule "activities," which we assume is patentese for Hangouts and the like to foster discussion. The patent filing also talks of financial rewards to tempt participation, which sounds like the perfect strategy for building millions of inactive G+ pages.

These days, wearable tech is a beast that cannot be stopped, even if we wanted to (we don't). We recently got wind of an application Motorola submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (initially filed in February of 2012 and published today) for an electronic device designed "to enfold about an appendage of a user." While "appendage" could mean a great many things, let's go wild and call this gadget a smartwatch. The application specifies a few interesting features, including gaze detection, touchscreen controls and a hinged dual display system. Motorola is no stranger to this territory; its MOTOACTV has enough features (like Twitter and Facebook) to be considered a fitness-oriented smartwatch. This newly proposed device includes functions similarly geared towards health-conscious consumers, like vital sign and exercise monitoring. While not all patents materialize into the finished products we might expect, it's interesting to know that Motorola is actively pursuing one such as this. The application can be read in full at the source link below.

Headphone parties, or silent discos, seldom translate well to mobile devices -- the likelihood that every listener has the same songs is rather slim. If Apple implements a newly granted patent, however, it could be easy to start those private gigs. The technique shares the tempo of a master track with other devices invited to a party; those gadgets automatically pick similarly paced tunes and sync their playback. Participants could be part of an ad hoc local network, but the approach would also work when people are miles apart. Apple even proposes a social networking element that lets aspiring DJs share avatars and other identifiers. While there's no guarantees that the patent will reach shipping products, we wouldn't be surprised to see iPhone owners grooving in unison at some point in the future.

Proximity-based content sharing systems for mobile tend to focus on one-at-a-time transfers -- see Android Beam and Apple's upcoming AirDrop as examples. Google, however, has just patented an interface that would simplify sharing content with nearby groups. Users would only have to drag private items into a public space to share them with everyone inside of a certain range; the reverse would hide those items once again. The approach wouldn't be limited to files, either, as it could be used for invitations to chat sessions or events. Google won't necessarily take advantage of its sharing patent, but the concept is simple enough that we wouldn't be surprised to find it in future apps or Android revisions.

Google already has a patent that would let Glass and other eyewear identify what's in front of you. However, it just received a new patent for a method that could follow your exact gaze. The proposed system would include both forward-facing and eye-tracking cameras, correlating both to determine what's grabbing your attention. It could gauge emotional responses to objects by watching for pupil dilation, and it could be used to charge advertisers based on how long wearers stare at a given ad. Google may also have an eyepiece upgrade to go along with its gaze detection, we'd note -- the company just received a patent for a quantum dot-based eye display. There's no evidence that Google will use either of these new inventions anytime soon, but we wouldn't be surprised if they represent what Glass could look like a few generations from now.